In a striking musical diplomacy move, legendary rock musician Neil Young has announced the provision of complimentary access to his complete discography for all residents of Greenland. The unexpected gesture, revealed Tuesday through the artist’s official blog, directly addresses the geopolitical tensions surrounding Denmark’s semi-autonomous territory, which has recently emerged as a focal point in U.S.-NATO relations.
Young framed his offering as an antidote to political strain, explicitly stating: “I hope my music and music films will ease some of the unwarranted stress and threats you are experiencing from our unpopular and hopefully temporary government.” The Canadian-born artist emphasized his desire for Greenlanders to experience his work in highest-quality audio within their “beautiful Greenland home.”
The initiative requires applicants to possess a Greenland-registered mobile phone for verification purposes. While initially structured as a one-year arrangement, Young indicated openness to potential renewal.
This benevolent act stands in stark opposition to Young’s recent stance toward Amazon Music, where he withdrew his catalog in protest of founder Jeff Bezos’s support for President Donald Trump. Young previously articulated his position, noting: “The president’s international policies and his support of ICE make it impossible for me to ignore his actions.”
The rock veteran maintains a complex history with streaming platforms, having previously removed his music from Spotify in objection to COVID-19 vaccine misinformation disseminated by podcaster Joe Rogan. Though that boycott eventually concluded, it represents just one chapter in Young’s longstanding critique of audio quality and ethical standards within digital music services. His catalog remains available on most major platforms including Apple Music, notwithstanding his periodic protests.
Neither Amazon Music representatives nor Young’s management team provided immediate commentary regarding these latest developments.